Bad Blood by Nikki Jefford #BlogTour #BookReview #Interview #Giveaway

Synopsis:
Aurora returns from boot camp to a new assignment, an unwelcome roommate, and the increasingly amorous attentions of a certain vampire hunter.

College is starting, and so is Aurora’s undercover work at a network of swanky parties known as “Tastings” for high rolling vampires who like their blood laced with fine wine. But Aurora’s not the only one on the prowl. An underground investigation is under way to find out who killed one of Anchorage’s most prominent vampires… and Aurora is a prime suspect.

I’m glad to be back with Aurora in Bad Blood. Not that it wasn’t great that Nikki Jefford decide to write from the point of view of other characters. Which I highly recommend reading. The more this series develops the more interesting and unique the plot becomes. I really love this series.

So Aurora is a bit different in this book. She has kind of got herself in a funk. She is renewed a bit from boot camp but she has many things weighing on her. She’s not a natural born hunter and I think her moral code is something that really is a driving force for her. The fact that she often has to break that has been bringing her down. As the story progresses though we see her kind of find her way out fo that and by the end of the book she is the Aurora I know and love.

Nikki has a great cast of characters in her series. They are so well developed and different. I love how they stay in character no matter the situation. Do Aurora and Valerie get along better now, well ya but the characters still stay true to themselves. Valerie still does ridiculous things and Aurora still thinks she does ridiculous things. Noel was more in the background, especially with the falling out that Aurora and her had. Fane is still Fane. You can’t not love Fane, I’m sorry Dante I’m just not that into you but we can be friends.

Wow so talk about a three shades of crazy ending going on with this book. I would say around 80%ish stuff really hits the fan and I kept going what. What! This is nuts, wait I want to punch that guy. Wait what? It was really good. I couldn’t put it down, it’s one of those things that you can’t read fast enough. The thing that I love about this series is that it has never suffered from a slump. There is always something new and something interesting going on. Some kind of development that makes things keep moving along. You don’t feel like the series needs to wrap in any particular number of books. Especially with the novellas that are from different characters points of views.

Bad Blood was another great addition to this series and I’m still wondering if since I’m AB negative and have a chronic disease that maybe I myself am a Vampire. People do make fun of the fact of how young I look...hmmm.

Vampires/Hunters! What made you decide to use AB Negative blood as a key to Vampire Hunters abilities?

The moment you tell someone you wrote a vampire book, you get the look or the tone, “Oh, another vampire book.” (Real original.) I constantly challenge myself to put a new twist on whatever subject I write about so no, it’s not just another vampire or witch book.

For Aurora Sky, I found inspiration in “Vampire Forensics” by Mark Collins Jenkins. The idea started with vampirism being a disease. I wanted it to be more sci-fi than fantasy, something that at least sounded remotely possible.

From there it was brainstorming. If anyone who got the plague, rabies, TB or any other disease could turn, the world would be overrun with vampires. I looked into blood types and picked the rarest. Sometimes it comes down to problem solving.

I love how the characters all have their very distinct personalities. Which character do you think you relate to the most?

Thank you. The most fun part of writing the Aurora Sky series is having such diverse personalities to work with. Dante! I consider him my male alter ego. I don’t warm up to people as quickly as he does, but when I do I like to joke around. It’s fun to get to share that goofy side of myself with a larger audience.

Which Character was the most fun to write?

Valerie Ward (aka: Evil Red). I constantly have to watch that I don’t let her overshadow Aurora. One of her biggest strengths is not caring what others think.

When writing how do you outline?

I write out a rough outline by hand in a notebook. It’s more of a list of the events that will occur in the book.

Do you have a particular space that you consider Zen for writing?

I was fortunate in that I spent the last four years living on 4 acres on San Juan Island (WA). We were surrounded by trees and my creativity level reached unprecedented highs. Now it’s back to a neighborhood and people knocking on the door trying to sell their religion or products or cleaning services (the last one just happened while I was writing this)! When I get into The Zone, it is maddening to be interrupted. But I enjoy writing at home where I have the company of my best bud, Cosmo.

What are you currently reading?

“How to Talk to Anyone: 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships” by Leil Lowndes. I’m comfortable with written communication, now I’d like to work on my speaking skills!

Describe Bad Blood in 5 Words.

Alias meets vampires in Alaska.

Bookaholic, nature girl, and animal lover.

Nikki Jefford is a third generation Alaskan who found paradise in the not-so-tropical San Juan Islands (WA) where she is, once more, neighbors with Canada in a town without a single traffic light.

She married the love of her life, Sebastien, while working as a teaching assistant in France. They reside with their Westie, Cosmo in Friday Harbor.